{"id":786999,"date":"2024-08-08T04:01:50","date_gmt":"2024-08-08T09:01:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/?p=786999"},"modified":"2024-08-08T04:01:50","modified_gmt":"2024-08-08T09:01:50","slug":"nasa-delays-launch-to-buy-time-at-space-station-for-troubled-starliner-npr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/?p=786999","title":{"rendered":"NASA delays launch to buy time at space station for troubled Starliner : NPR"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"storytext\">\n<div id=\"resg-s1-15921\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"&#10;        --source-width: 1920;&#10;        --source-height: 1280;&#10;    \">\n        <picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1280+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff7%2F84%2Fe99e5d7a4916979888c13bef03bb%2Fap24220633024930.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1280+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff7%2F84%2Fe99e5d7a4916979888c13bef03bb%2Fap24220633024930.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1280+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff7%2F84%2Fe99e5d7a4916979888c13bef03bb%2Fap24220633024930.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1280+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff7%2F84%2Fe99e5d7a4916979888c13bef03bb%2Fap24220633024930.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1280+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff7%2F84%2Fe99e5d7a4916979888c13bef03bb%2Fap24220633024930.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1280+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff7%2F84%2Fe99e5d7a4916979888c13bef03bb%2Fap24220633024930.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1280+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff7%2F84%2Fe99e5d7a4916979888c13bef03bb%2Fap24220633024930.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1280+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff7%2F84%2Fe99e5d7a4916979888c13bef03bb%2Fap24220633024930.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1300px) 763px, (min-width: 1025px) calc(100vw - 496px), (min-width: 768px) calc(100vw - 171px), calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1280+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff7%2F84%2Fe99e5d7a4916979888c13bef03bb%2Fap24220633024930.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1280+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff7%2F84%2Fe99e5d7a4916979888c13bef03bb%2Fap24220633024930.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1280+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff7%2F84%2Fe99e5d7a4916979888c13bef03bb%2Fap24220633024930.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1280+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff7%2F84%2Fe99e5d7a4916979888c13bef03bb%2Fap24220633024930.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1280+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff7%2F84%2Fe99e5d7a4916979888c13bef03bb%2Fap24220633024930.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1280+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff7%2F84%2Fe99e5d7a4916979888c13bef03bb%2Fap24220633024930.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1280+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff7%2F84%2Fe99e5d7a4916979888c13bef03bb%2Fap24220633024930.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/1920x1280+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff7%2F84%2Fe99e5d7a4916979888c13bef03bb%2Fap24220633024930.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1300px) 763px, (min-width: 1025px) calc(100vw - 496px), (min-width: 768px) calc(100vw - 171px), calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                This photo provided by NASA shows Boeing&#8217;s Starliner spacecraft docked to the Harmony module&#8217;s forward port on July 3, seen from a window on the SpaceX Dragon Endeavour spacecraft docked to the adjacent port.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>                    NASA\/via AP<\/p>\n<p>                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><b>toggle caption<\/b><\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>        NASA\/via AP<\/p>\n<p>    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>NASA is delaying its next astronaut launch to buy more time at the International Space Station for Boeing&#8217;s troubled new crew capsule.<\/p>\n<p>The space agency said Tuesday it&#8217;s bumping SpaceX&#8217;s four-person flight from this month to next. It&#8217;s now targeted for Sept. 24 at the earliest. Officials said that will give them more time to analyze thruster and leak problems that hit Boeing&#8217;s Starliner capsule after its June liftoff, its first with a crew on board.<\/p>\n<p>Tuesday marked the two-month point at the space station for Starliner&#8217;s test pilots, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who should have been back by mid-June. NASA is weighing all its options for returning the two veteran astronauts, including a ride home in a SpaceX capsule.<\/p>\n<aside id=\"ad-backstage-wrap\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>&#8220;NASA and Boeing continue to evaluate the spacecraft&#8217;s readiness, and no decisions have been made regarding Starliner&#8217;s return,&#8221; NASA said in a statement. Further details were expected at a news conference set for Wednesday.<\/p>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5067763-100\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3333x3333+1115+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F86%2F15%2F4a9e55ce45c19539a152a4ba5f5c%2Fgettyimages-2155551243.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3333x3333+1115+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F86%2F15%2F4a9e55ce45c19539a152a4ba5f5c%2Fgettyimages-2155551243.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3333x3333+1115+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F86%2F15%2F4a9e55ce45c19539a152a4ba5f5c%2Fgettyimages-2155551243.jpg\" data-format=\"webp\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3333x3333+1115+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F86%2F15%2F4a9e55ce45c19539a152a4ba5f5c%2Fgettyimages-2155551243.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3333x3333+1115+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F86%2F15%2F4a9e55ce45c19539a152a4ba5f5c%2Fgettyimages-2155551243.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3333x3333+1115+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F86%2F15%2F4a9e55ce45c19539a152a4ba5f5c%2Fgettyimages-2155551243.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3333x3333+1115+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F86%2F15%2F4a9e55ce45c19539a152a4ba5f5c%2Fgettyimages-2155551243.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/3333x3333+1115+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F86%2F15%2F4a9e55ce45c19539a152a4ba5f5c%2Fgettyimages-2155551243.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, wearing Boeing spacesuits, wave as they prepare to depart the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at Kennedy Space Center for Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida to board the Boeing CST-100 Starliner spacecraft for the Crew Flight Test launch, on June 5.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5067763-100\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>Only two docking ports at the space station can accommodate U.S. astronaut capsules and, right now, both are occupied. So one will need to be vacated before the next SpaceX crew can arrive. Russia has its own parking places for its Soyuz capsules.<\/p>\n<p>The latest setback means the four astronauts who flew up with SpaceX in March now also face a longer mission than planned.<\/p>\n<p>Over the past several weeks, Boeing has conducted thruster test firings on the ground as well as in space to better understand why five thrusters failed ahead of Starliner&#8217;s June 6 arrival at the space station. All but one came back online. Helium leaks in the capsule&#8217;s propulsion system also cropped up.<\/p>\n<p>Citing the testing, the company late last week said: &#8220;Boeing remains confident in the Starliner spacecraft and its ability to return safely with crew.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5067763-101\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2011x2011+348+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F26%2Ff8%2F7844646a4b7295fbada64b207613%2Fap24180577880011.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2011x2011+348+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F26%2Ff8%2F7844646a4b7295fbada64b207613%2Fap24180577880011.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2011x2011+348+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F26%2Ff8%2F7844646a4b7295fbada64b207613%2Fap24180577880011.jpg\" data-format=\"webp\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2011x2011+348+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F26%2Ff8%2F7844646a4b7295fbada64b207613%2Fap24180577880011.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2011x2011+348+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F26%2Ff8%2F7844646a4b7295fbada64b207613%2Fap24180577880011.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2011x2011+348+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F26%2Ff8%2F7844646a4b7295fbada64b207613%2Fap24180577880011.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2011x2011+348+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F26%2Ff8%2F7844646a4b7295fbada64b207613%2Fap24180577880011.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/2011x2011+348+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F26%2Ff8%2F7844646a4b7295fbada64b207613%2Fap24180577880011.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"The Starliner spacecraft docked with the International Space Station and orbiting 262 miles above Egypt's Mediterranean coast on June 13, 2024. NASA says additional testing is needed before Starliner can return to Earth.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5067763-101\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>Boeing and SpaceX topped NASA&#8217;s list for astronaut taxi service to and from the space station, after the shuttles retired in 2011. NASA signed contracts worth billions with both companies in order to have a backup in case one of them got sidelined by an accident.<\/p>\n<p>SpaceX launched its first crew in 2020; the upcoming flight will be its 10th astronaut flight for NASA. It&#8217;s also sent a few private crews into orbit.<\/p>\n<p>Boeing has had to overcome multiple Starliner problems over the years. The company had to launch an empty Starliner twice before committing to a crew, repeating the initial flight test because of bad software and other issues. The delays have cost the company more than $1 billion.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2024\/08\/08\/nx-s1-5067763\/nasa-delays-next-crew-launch-to-buy-time-at-the-space-station-for-troubled-starliner?rand=771664\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This photo provided by NASA shows Boeing&#8217;s Starliner spacecraft docked to the Harmony module&#8217;s forward port on July 3, seen from a window on the SpaceX Dragon Endeavour spacecraft docked&hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":787000,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[44],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-786999","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-npr"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/786999","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=786999"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/786999\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/787000"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=786999"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=786999"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=786999"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}